The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-24
A CURIOUS CASE.
Showing How the Ends of Justice
are Sometimes Defeated.

showing HOW the ENDS OF justice
are Sometimes Defeated.
In case No. 1884, application of
Thomas Rosson for pardon, Rosson was
indicted in the district court of William
son county on charges of horse stealing
(seven cases). He pleaded not guilty,
July term, 1850 and was convicted in SIX
cases and punishment assessed at five
years in each; in the seventh he was given
fifteen years concurrent, and was sent to
the penitentiary for that length of time.
After serving eleven months, application
for pardon was filed August 10, 1886.
The application is signed by us citi-
zens, and alleges that Rosson was young,
mex perienced, with but limited opportu-
mites for correct moral training; that he
had been made the dupe of wicked and
designing men, and had already been
punished in measure fully proportioned
to the extent of his connection with the
crime.
Supporting the application is letter
dated August z, 1885, from Hon. George
q. Pendleton, at present speaker of the
house of representatives, who writes that
WHILE NOT PERSONALLY ooGNIzANr OF THE
FACTS
in the case, from reliable sources, he
learns that the party (Rosson) handled
property which he thought was his own
and had been made the tool and victim of
men shrewder and more wicked than him
self. "The real criminal" says Mr.. Pen
dleton, "took advantage of technically
of law and escaped by a lavish use of
money"
Under date of August %, 1886, John 7.
| Olive, sheriff of Williamson county, writes
to the governor that he arrested Rosson
and worked up the evidence in the cases,
the facts being, that he, (Rosson), Tom
| Askew, William Garrett, and others not
known, came into Williamson county and
stole a bunch of horses off the range.
Most of the horses were recovered
in Clay county, where Askew
had sold them. Another horse
was found in Garrett's possession in Col
lin county. Askew and Garrett produced
bills of sale from Rosson. II
think it can be proven that these
bills of sale were procured after the
horses were recovered, and that Rosson
signed them through persuasion and un-
der promise of protection, if arrested.
doubt if Rosson ever received any of the
| pIOCGOu5 Vi UhO buoiu DuU ho Woo
made the dupe of Askew and Garrett"
The sheriff suggests that the grant of
the pardon, in order to obtain testimony
for use in the conviction of the real
thieues.
On the 25th of August the governor
| filed the papers, with the following en-
dorsement: upon the facts to be found
in these papers this man is pardoned I'M
conditionally."
Subsequently protests we're filed and
the pardon was stopped by tele-
graph before the convict was released.
On the back of the pardon appears the
following endorsement: tissue an order
cancelling this, as having been issued on
misinformation."
Among the protests is letter from
the sheriff of Bell county, dated Septem'
Der ID, 1886, characterizing Rosson al
having a character spotted as law
breaker" and reciting that he was under
indictment in Bell county for cattle theft
had secured two continuances, and his
bond had been fofeited. There is also q
statement from the clerk of the courts in
Bell county showing that he had been be-
| fore the courts there several times.
Under date of the LIST of September, g
protest, signed by 1897 of the best names
from Williamson county, recites that the
prisoner had been mercifully treated II
being given only fifteen years, instead OF
the full term, and that pardon
under the circumstances, woule
shake the confidence of the com
munity in the correct administration Of
the law.
There is also protest from ten of thu
Jurors who tried the case against the
granting of a pardon and stating thai
they heard all the evidence on both sides
and carefully considered it, and believed
that there was no doubt about Rosson's
guilt. Per contra.
There is petition of citizens i'll pre-
cinct No. 3, of Williamson county, asking
the perpetuation of the pardon
the certificate of good con
duct from the pension officials
letters from the father of the prisone
showing his good character. and writtel
promise from the attorney for prisoner
Mr.. McMahon, and Rossou's father, tina
if he was pardoned the testimony woul'
be produced to convict the real criminals
On the 18th of January, the day of Gov
} ernor Ireland's term expired, he endorsed
on the papers, the following: This man
pardoned on the facts set out in thes
) papers to take effect February LIST, 1887.
|